Disclaimer: I try not to ship Varlow to hard because Volger is about twice as old as Barlow, but I warn you, there may be nods to it!

"You what?!" Deryn practically yelled at doctor Barlow. "The Leviathan is only for political missions, not science excursions! My old crew mates still serve on there!"

"This is a political mission Miss Sharp." said doctor Barlow coolly. "This genetic anomaly I'm going to study a spreading disease that has been affecting animals on Madagascar, and if we are not careful, could spread to the mainland. We are sending the Leviathan because Africa has agreed to supply Darwinist powers with supplies to recover from the war if we sent our best to stop this disease. That meant me, my team, and the Leviathan. This also means, that as former decorated officer of the Leviathan, Miss Sharp, that you will be a valued crew member of it's decks again. This means, your uniform, medal, and the like. You did pack those yes? The uniform is only for formal occasions, of course."

Deryn sighed disappointedly. She remembered how hard it had been when Alek had found out she was a girl nearly three years ago. And he had been her best friend, not her crew, who she had broke so many laws to serve under. In those two years that she had been given off to grow into her feminine form, she had changed a lot physically. She was still the same soldier inside, but would they see that? "I just… don't want to be looked down at. I'm still the same soldier… a decorated officer at that, but will they be able to remember me for me?"

"If they don't, then you have a solid punch at the ready to jog their memory." said Alek helpfully.

"Mr. Newkirk!" said Bovril.

"Oh no, I had forgotten about him." said Deryn, worried. "We had to share a room for much of our time on the Leviathan. He had been a friend too."

"I wouldn't worry about Newkirk. He was a decent fellow willing to see past differences." said Alek.

"I can only pray your right Alek."

They got out of the carriage in front of the London zoo. "Don't tell me we're doing another one of your middle of london pickups again Dr. Barlow. It was hard enough last time."

"I'm afraid so Miss Sharp. I have some very delicate and heavy equipment that must be loaded directly onto the Leviathan to avoid complication."

"Now I wonder why this all seems so familiar." Deryn said incredulously.

"I assume this is stemming from before I came aboard." sermised Alek.

Deryn heard a noise from above. When she looked up, she saw the beautiful shape of the Leviathan gliding in from the north. After so long it drew a tear to her eye. "Miss Sharp, you will be helping the ground crew, while Alek and I gather my equipment and Tazza."

Deryn could only nod, her eyes still on the airbeast. She walked forward into the park in a trance. It was the descending huxleys that broke her gaze. Someone was furiously flag signaling her. L-A-N-D-I-N-G C-R-E-W I-S C-O-M-I-N-G. It was Newkirk. The other was another much to familiar face. Robert Fitzroy. That bum rag of a middie who had gotten kicked off the crew last time they had done this kind of landing. The one who thought he was so much barking better than everyone else because his Da was an ocean navy captain.

When they got to the ground, she issued them a salute, bum rag included. "Mr. Newkirk. Mr. Fitzroy."

Newkirk returned her salute. "Mr-er Miss Sharp."

Fitzroy did nothing of the sort. Newkirk handed her a rope. "The ground crew are going to slide down. After what happened last time, they decided not to trust certain middies with gathering land men."

Fitzroy shot him a poisonous glare. "At least I'm not a god damned imposter!"

That was aimed at her. This is what she had imagined would happen. It was worse in real life. "At least I'm not a barking coward with no common sense like some people!" she shot back.

Newkirk smiled at this. "Mr. Fitzroy is just bitter that a girl beat him at everything airship related."

Fitzroy prodded Deryn with a finger right below her neck. "I'm for damned sure bitter. This lying weasel beat me for a place on the Leviathan that was rightfully mine. She got a medal that should have been mine! Apologize you little b***h!"

Deryn slammed the heel of her boot into his foot. "Oww! Oh you got it in for you now b***h! You'll be sorry!"

He raised his fist, but before he could strike, Deryn punched him in the gut, causing him to double over. When he did so, Deryn slammed her fist down onto his back. His chest then crashed into her raised knee. Newkirk watched with wide eyes. Fitzroy lay doubled over on the ground moaning. "Thanks for that-um..."

"Deryn."

"Thanks for that Deryn. He had it coming."

Newkirk extend a hand. She shook it. Alek was right. Newkirk could look past their differences. "You've changed." he said.

"You don't look so bad either. Got rid of those plooks on your face I see."

Newkirk's face turned red. "Yeah, I guess so… Look, ground crew is sliding down!" He kicked Fitzroy lightly. "Fitzroy, get your rope!"

Fitzroy got up, his eyes seething with anger. "Give me that." he said, snatching his rope from Newkirk's hands.

30 men or so slid down the ropes, each with ropes of their own. They spread out across the park pulling the Leviathan closer to the ground. Deryn felt right at home barking orders to them just she used to. It was not long before Alek and Doctor Barlow returned with a tigeresque pulling a cart of technologies, as well as man she had never wished to see again. Count Volger.

Alek came over first to see Newkirk. "Mr. Newkirk! It's been to long!" he said extending a hand.

Newkirk shook it. "How have things been your princeliness?"

"Please call me Alek, Mr. Newkirk. Br. Barlow has kept me busy, but things have gone well. How are things on the Leviathan?"

"Things weren't so easy when Sharp left. We had to take Mr. Fitzroy in her place, and he hasn't been giving me the easiest of times."

Alek put an arm around Deryn. "She was quite the airman."

"Eye. Saved my life more times than I have fingers." said Newkirk.

Deryn noticed that he seemed a little uneasy around them. "Something wrong Newkirk?"

Newkirk shook his head. "Nothing."

He paused. "Actually, there is something. Alek, did you know? About Sharp being a girl?"

Deryn looked at Alek, who she could feel lacked an eloquent answer. "He did." she said. "I didn't tell him, he figured it out with help from Bovril."

Newkirk looked back down. "I knew it. The way you two were always together. It makes sense now. You two… your a coupe aren't you."

"I suppose you could say that. Is there a problem with that Mr. Newkirk?"

He shook his head. "No… it's just a lot to wrap my head around. Makes me feel really stupid I didn't realize you were a girl before."

"You wouldn't be the first." said Alek.

Newkirk laughed half heartedly. "No, I suppose not!"